Page 23
GENERAL SEMANTICS
An Introduction to Perception
T h e S T R U C T U R A L D I F F E R E N T I A L
A Model by Alfred Korzybski
Note: The following descriptions and explanations for the diagram opposite,
begin at the top and move progressively downward.
begin at the top and move progressively downward.
Fig. 1.
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I.
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II.
The CIRCLE
The level at which we experience things via nervous-system
perceptions of dot qualities within the parabola
A. The dots within the parabola are perceived at (abstracted from/delivered to) the Circle or Object level.
B. We do not respond to, and perceive little of, the parabola’s characteristics:
01. A result of structurally-determined transduction.
02. The strings which do not reach the Circle:
a. The non-wholeness of our perceiving, and of our perceptions.
b. Summarizations which always result in a loss factors.
C. The circle is the level at which is performed:
01. Transducing.
02. Selecting.
03. Filtering.
04. Integrating.
05. Projecting.
06. In the above order.
D. Non-verbal, attitudinal, and neurological at 225mph.
E. The level at which we perceive that the parabola behaves in certain ways:
01. Predictability vs expectations of certainty.
02. Energy forms which resist one another. (arm on table)
F. Pre-lingual, and/or proto-lingual. (language)
G. The smaller circle attached to the larger:
01. The level of protoplasmic abstracting: animal vs. human:
a. The level of non-human organisms:
0a. Cockroaches scurry from light apparently as a result of experiencing a perception (abstraction) that light is outside themselves.
b. Extremely low orders of inference.
c. Pavlov’s experiments with dogs. The heirarchy of motivations:
0a. Hunger and food supercedes all other drives and interests.
0b. Fear, threat, and flight from pain is secondary.
0c. Sexual pursuit is third in importance.
H. Humans salivate at vivid descriptions of particular foods:
01. The response to words as if they were the things themselves.
I. Human and animal: great similarities vs. great differences:
01. Human abstraction levels dramatically exceed those of animals. (so great a difference as to require separate definitions)
02. The capability for becoming conscious of our abstracting process is apparently exclusive to humans.
03. Varying degrees of neurosis are the price of enhanced ratings.
J. The strings that bridge chasms of ignorance:
01. Remaining conscious of our constant abstracting process.
B. We do not respond to, and perceive little of, the parabola’s characteristics:
01. A result of structurally-determined transduction.
02. The strings which do not reach the Circle:
a. The non-wholeness of our perceiving, and of our perceptions.
b. Summarizations which always result in a loss factors.
C. The circle is the level at which is performed:
01. Transducing.
02. Selecting.
03. Filtering.
04. Integrating.
05. Projecting.
06. In the above order.
D. Non-verbal, attitudinal, and neurological at 225mph.
E. The level at which we perceive that the parabola behaves in certain ways:
01. Predictability vs expectations of certainty.
02. Energy forms which resist one another. (arm on table)
F. Pre-lingual, and/or proto-lingual. (language)
G. The smaller circle attached to the larger:
01. The level of protoplasmic abstracting: animal vs. human:
a. The level of non-human organisms:
0a. Cockroaches scurry from light apparently as a result of experiencing a perception (abstraction) that light is outside themselves.
b. Extremely low orders of inference.
c. Pavlov’s experiments with dogs. The heirarchy of motivations:
0a. Hunger and food supercedes all other drives and interests.
0b. Fear, threat, and flight from pain is secondary.
0c. Sexual pursuit is third in importance.
H. Humans salivate at vivid descriptions of particular foods:
01. The response to words as if they were the things themselves.
I. Human and animal: great similarities vs. great differences:
01. Human abstraction levels dramatically exceed those of animals. (so great a difference as to require separate definitions)
02. The capability for becoming conscious of our abstracting process is apparently exclusive to humans.
03. Varying degrees of neurosis are the price of enhanced ratings.
J. The strings that bridge chasms of ignorance:
01. Remaining conscious of our constant abstracting process.
III.
The VERBAL LEVEL
The precisely human level, the need and desire to communicate
A. The dots within the circle are perceived at, and summarized within, the verbal level tag, located directly below the circle:
01. Summarization results in a loss factor of abstracted data derived from the circle: (the strings which do not reach the verbal level)
02. Descriptions and naming of experiences (perceptions) derived from nervous-system functions at the circle level.
03. Informal and barely lingual statements of fact, if at all, in a non-inculturated, simplistic form:
a. Not a known language system -- musical notations as an approximation.
b. Proto-human vs. proto-labeling -- the verbalization of experiences for which no language exists.
c. The internal (in our brains) dialogue: the running blank tape.
B. The first order of inference levels. (summarization processes)
C. The argument that, by present standards, cultural influence cannot be separated from perceptual verbalizations.
01. Summarization results in a loss factor of abstracted data derived from the circle: (the strings which do not reach the verbal level)
02. Descriptions and naming of experiences (perceptions) derived from nervous-system functions at the circle level.
03. Informal and barely lingual statements of fact, if at all, in a non-inculturated, simplistic form:
a. Not a known language system -- musical notations as an approximation.
b. Proto-human vs. proto-labeling -- the verbalization of experiences for which no language exists.
c. The internal (in our brains) dialogue: the running blank tape.
B. The first order of inference levels. (summarization processes)
C. The argument that, by present standards, cultural influence cannot be separated from perceptual verbalizations.
IV.
LOWER To HIGHER INFERENCE LEVELS
Very few facts vs any number of inferences
A. The dots within the verbal level (abstractions of circle Object qualities) are further perceivied at and summarized within lower and higher inference levels:
01. Inference level abstractions invariably impact on our notions of what constitutes reality, which is defined as the nature and character of the parabola.
B. Orders of Inference: Low to high (extrapolation and embellishment)
01. Generalizations (first tag below verbal level tag) are considered the second order of inference.
02. Hypotheses make up the third tag.
03. Theories constitute the fourth.
04. Theories about theories derive from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th orders of inference, ad infinitum.
C. The broken-off tag:
01. The model itself is limited.
02. The process continues, but is indefinitely limited.
03. An ongoing potential for greater learning and understanding.
D. Updating one's brain with new information:
01. A qualitative process.
02. Reservations because new data is not always constructively positive.
01. Inference level abstractions invariably impact on our notions of what constitutes reality, which is defined as the nature and character of the parabola.
B. Orders of Inference: Low to high (extrapolation and embellishment)
01. Generalizations (first tag below verbal level tag) are considered the second order of inference.
02. Hypotheses make up the third tag.
03. Theories constitute the fourth.
04. Theories about theories derive from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th orders of inference, ad infinitum.
C. The broken-off tag:
01. The model itself is limited.
02. The process continues, but is indefinitely limited.
03. An ongoing potential for greater learning and understanding.
D. Updating one's brain with new information:
01. A qualitative process.
02. Reservations because new data is not always constructively positive.
V.
The RETURN ARROW
Neuro-linguistic feedback
A. The dots within the inference levels (linguistic abstractions derived from the verbal level) are summarized as notions of event-level perceptions: (what’s going on within the parabola).
01. The arrow of the model represents the flow bridging our perceptions with our abstracted thoughts and subsequent actions, based upon judgments of reality derived from inferential projections.
02. Higher-order inferences (descending tags that exit the model) are precisely about event-level (parabola) operations.
03. The idea that the universe is a process represents an event-level inference:
a. Hundreds of years of humans abstracting about something which cannot be directly observed.
b. A feedback process by which we achieve greater understanding, and learn more about, that which cannot be directly observed.
B. High orders of inference impact on subsequent abstraction processes.
01. What we say, think, and feel -- and how we behave -- as a result of imposing our theories on event-level reality.
02. A natural process (flow) that leads to insights and enlightenment, but with severe risks and consequences:
a. The origin of prejudices, belief systems, faiths, dogmas, and associative behaviors.
0a. God is the source of all creation.
0b. Mexicans are just no good; what more do I need to know?
05. When I act certain ways, people should like me:
a. Neuroses and psychoses represent the price of high-order inference-level abstracting.
01. The arrow of the model represents the flow bridging our perceptions with our abstracted thoughts and subsequent actions, based upon judgments of reality derived from inferential projections.
02. Higher-order inferences (descending tags that exit the model) are precisely about event-level (parabola) operations.
03. The idea that the universe is a process represents an event-level inference:
a. Hundreds of years of humans abstracting about something which cannot be directly observed.
b. A feedback process by which we achieve greater understanding, and learn more about, that which cannot be directly observed.
B. High orders of inference impact on subsequent abstraction processes.
01. What we say, think, and feel -- and how we behave -- as a result of imposing our theories on event-level reality.
02. A natural process (flow) that leads to insights and enlightenment, but with severe risks and consequences:
a. The origin of prejudices, belief systems, faiths, dogmas, and associative behaviors.
0a. God is the source of all creation.
0b. Mexicans are just no good; what more do I need to know?
05. When I act certain ways, people should like me:
a. Neuroses and psychoses represent the price of high-order inference-level abstracting.
VI.
SELF, TALKING TO SELF
The electro-chemical language of neuro-linguistic feedback
A. The return-arrow also references the constant dialogue (like a running tape) speaking inside our heads:
01. Neuro-linguistic feedback is not neutral; it is based on electro-chemical firings within the brain, that affect the nervous-system as a whole:
a. Neuro-biologic consequences:
1a. Ulcers and dental problems as a result of stress.
1b. Pathological anti-social behaviors.
02. The building-up of attitudes and dependencies.
B. Cybernetic considerations:
01. Artificial intelligence vs. ethical morality.
C. Neuro-linguistic feedback is based on our past history which includes all our experiences and perceptions. The results of such are expressed in the form of subsequent attitudes.
An Introduction to General Semantics
concludes on page NOU24.
01. Neuro-linguistic feedback is not neutral; it is based on electro-chemical firings within the brain, that affect the nervous-system as a whole:
a. Neuro-biologic consequences:
1a. Ulcers and dental problems as a result of stress.
1b. Pathological anti-social behaviors.
02. The building-up of attitudes and dependencies.
B. Cybernetic considerations:
01. Artificial intelligence vs. ethical morality.
C. Neuro-linguistic feedback is based on our past history which includes all our experiences and perceptions. The results of such are expressed in the form of subsequent attitudes.
An Introduction to General Semantics
concludes on page NOU24.
You're currently on page NOU23
listed under NOUMENOMICON.
